Soft-tread tire.



J. W. GRUSIUS SOFT TREAD TIRE.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 24, 1912.

1,099,282, Patented June 9, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

9' anoe/wkw e/caja WCnwiws J. W. CRUSIUS.

SOFT TREAD TIRE.

AYPLIOATION FILED MAY 24, 1012.

Patented June 9, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

q gmvewcoz Jaw [mains JACOB W. CRUSIUS,.OF PAULDING. OHIO.

SOFT- BREAD TIRE.

To all 10710171. it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB l/V. (homes, acitizen of the United States, residing at .Paulding, in the county ofPaulding and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements inSoft-Tread Tires, of which the following is a specification.

The invention provides a yieldable tire which may be quickly fitted tovehicle wheels of standard sizes, said tire approximating the resiliencyafforded by the pneumatic tire so as to render riding comfortable and atthe same time prevent excessive wear to the vehicle and the motor in theevent of the vehicle being mechanically propelled.

The invention contemplates a yieldable tread, a. rigid rim andintermediate cushioning and lateral supporting and bracing devices, theyieldable tread preventing jar when the tire passes over a stone orother similar projection in the path of the vehicle wheel.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of constructionand combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularlyset forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out inthe appended claim.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure 11s a side view of a soft tread tire embodying the invention, a portionof the casing being broken away. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion ofthe tire having the near ring removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionabout on the line m--m of Fig. 1, showing the means for attaching thetire and the rim of a vehicle wheel of the automobile type. Fig. 4 showsa modified form of spring forming cushioning means between the rim andtread. Fig. 5 is a modification, showing a diflerent form of brace andconnector for retaining the tread in place. Fig. 6 shows a furthermodification of the means for bracing and connecting the tread to therim. Fig. 7 shows a further modified form of spring.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the samereference characters.

The tire comprises a relatively rigid rim and a yieldable tread. The rimembodies two rings 1 which are spaced apart and connected by means ofbolts 2 or like fastenings. The tread portioniis formed of yieldablematerial so asto give when passing Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 24, 1912.

Patented Jun 0. t), 1914.

Serial No. 699,429.

rality of springs 5 are interposed between the rim and tread portions ofthe tire.

Each of the springs is approximately of U.

form, one member being considerably longer than the other, the shortmember being arranged near the inner side of the tire and the longmember being arranged adjacent the inner side of the inner portion 3 toform a support for the tread. The short member of the spring terminatesin an eye through which one of the bolts or fastenings 2 passes. Thelonger or outer members of the springs 5 overlap so as to mutuallysupport one another at their outer ends as well as to sup port the treadportion of the tire at every point. The springs 5 are constructed ofstrips of flat spring metal and while the U form is preferred it ismanifest that the springs may have any desired outline so long as theirinner ends are connected with the rim and their outer ends overlap andunitedly form a continuous support for the tread portion of the tire.

The tread portion 'of the tire is arranged opposite the space formedbetween the rings 1 and is retained in place by means of combined bracesand connectors 6 which have their inner ends engaged by means of thebolts or fastenlngs 2 and their outer ends secured to the tread portionof the tire by means of bolts or fastenings 7. which pass throughopenings formed in said tread por tion and through openings at the outerends of the parts 6. The inner portions of the parts 6 engage the innersides of the rings 1 and are spaced apart by means of the springs 5 andthe eyes through which the fastenings 2 pass. The outer ends of theparts 6 extend along opposite sides of the tread portion of the tire,thereby bracing the same laterally against transverse strain. The parts(Shave a limited movement to ad mit of the tread portion of the tireyielding in the plane of the wheel so as to compensate for shock andvibration to attain all the advantages incident to the use of thepneumatic tire. In the preferred construction of the parts 6 they are ofapproximately L form, one member having a radial arrangement and theother member extending inthe circumferential length of the rim. In ther2, each of the springs 0 In Fig.2amodified form of iiector is shown inwhich the outer end of the member placed along side of the treadterminates in. an elongated loop 10 through which a fastening 7 passes,such construe tioiradmitting of the connector supporting the. tire foran appreciable part of its length.

The springs may be differently formed as.

hereinbefore stated and as shown in Fig. is curved and has an eye orroll at its inner end to receive a bolt or, fastening 2. In themodification shown in Fig. 7' each of the springs 12 has its inner endof an invo-lute form and terminating in an eye or' roll through which abelt or fastening Qpasses for connecting the spring to the rim portionof the tire. It is contemplated to construct tires in accordance withthisinvention in standard sizes both as to diameter and tread and thesetires are designed to be fitted to the rims of automobile or othervehicle wheels and areadapted to be secured in place in various ways. Asshown lock plates are secured to the outer side of one of the rims 1 bymeans of bolts 14, the latter passing through radial slots 15 formed inthe lock plates 18 and said lock'plates having lugs 16 at their inneredges to pass through openings in the rim 17 of the automobile or othervehicle wheel. The lock plates 13 may be supplemented by other fasteningmeans 'or such fastening means may be used independently of the lockplates, the same con sisting of a nut-18 and a screw 19, the latterbeing designed to pass through an opening in the rim 1? of theautomobile or vehicle wheel and making screwthread con-. nection withthenut 18, which latter has trunnions at its ends which pass throughtransverse openings formed in the rings 1. lVhen the screws 19 areremoved and the bolts 14 loosened and the lock plates 13' movedoutwardly the tire as a whole may he slipped upon, or removed from thewheel, as will be readily understood.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for brace and con- A casing'20embraces opposite sides of the tire and-encircles the same andprevents dust, ,mud,sand, slush and the like-from finding its way intothe space between the rings 1 and between the rim and the tread portionof the tire, thereby interfering with the free'action of the springs andthe combined braces and connectors 6. This casing may be constructed ofleather, fabric or any other suitable material best adapted for thepurpose. nular form andis split to enable it t'o be easily fitted to orremoved from the tire and when in positionis made secure by means ofshort straps and buckles 21 in the manner well understood. 7

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, theadvantages of the'constructicn "and of themethod of operation will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the artto which the invent-ion'appertains, and while I have described theprinciple'of operation of the invention, together with the device whichI now consider to be thebest embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood thatth'e device shownis merely'illustrative, and that suchchanges may be made when desired as are within thescope of the claimappended hereto.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is:' h

In combination a rim, transversely spaced rings mounted upon "the rimand secu'red thereto, a yieldable tread encircling the rim, bracesbetween the'tread and rings and having their outer ends embracingopposite sides of the tread and their inner-ends in contact withtheinner faces of the} rings, boltsconnecting the inner ends ofthe'braices with the rings, other bolts connecting the outer ends of thebraces'with the tread, and flat springs of a width equalfto the distancebetween opposed braces, said springs having eyes at their inner ends toreceive the bolts supported in. the rings aiidtheouter 'ends of thesprings being arranged to overlap and engage the inner'side of the treadto form l a yielding support therefor I In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature: in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB W. CR-USIU'S- lVitnesses: h I V C. A. DICKISON,

A. R.GEYER five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner-ofPatents,WashingtonfDQG.

The casing is constructed'inan-

